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Windsor, Ontario, Canada

I went out today to wipe my 1068 (220 OTT) and found a little clear liquid oozing from part of the stem. It didnt look like much of a split this morning, but by the afternoon, there was a noticeable split half on the pumpkin and half in the stem. It is still quite small, but its there. I will put a fan there to dry it out, but what can I do to stop it from splitting.

I am not making any monster gains, in fact the best day is only 18lbs. We did get rain for the last three days, and I had begun a more intense fertilizing regimen. I will not be fretilizing for a few days, and the irrigation system is turned off to see what happens in the next 24 hrs.

Any and all advice appreciated.

Thanks

7/27/2007 3:54:39 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

JRO, since we can't get captan powder in Canada, buy yourself some powdered garden sulphur and mix in a few drops to make a paste. Fill the cracks and splits with this paste and put the fan on. It should help to dry any cracks and splits out and will assist in the healing process.

I've been using this type of sulphur powder paste for years and it has saved me a number of times.

Good luck with it/Glenn

7/27/2007 4:09:17 PM

Georgia

Can you get a product like Ortho garden and disease control. I just got captan yesterday and Im gonna start applying that instead. But many of my pumpkins have stem splits and I found out through Brooks that painting it on the cracks is sussposed to help. It does my splits are really slowing down and drying out nicely. GOOD luck

7/27/2007 4:14:34 PM

ipswich, ma usa

JRO

When pumpkins are that size and growing they sometimes tend to "ooze" at the stem area and the area where the pumpkin stem attaches into the pumpkin. Just keep an eye on it. No need to whip out the Captan yet. If the crack does not seem to be getting larger (by much) then just let it grow. My stems right now are doing the same thing. The ooze actually helps heal the crack. It kinda looks like snot right?....LOL That's just a sign it be a growin!

John (5150)

7/27/2007 4:24:25 PM

Farmville, Virginia ([email protected])

My problem is not actually on the stem but rather from the point where the stem joins the pumpkin and then up the ribs. I have 3 splits (cracks) about 4 inches long that run right up the rib from the stem. Been there for about 5 days now. Not getting any worse than the first day I saw them. been applying Captan. The are maybe 1/8" wide and the same deep. Aret these little cracks normal or should I be concerned?

7/27/2007 4:42:11 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Letting them heal themselves is the best bet sometimes. A lot of the time we tend to over baby these plants and do more harm.

7/27/2007 5:38:35 PM

Jericho Vermont

I had 2 pumpkins last year with splits almost big enough to put your hand through. With advice I used powdered captan and applied it with a pipette. The pumpkins never split to cavity and both made weigh offs with legal weights. Try to keep your stems dry and careful applying a paste to them, straight powder will help. You may need a fan if there is alot of oozing. But that is quite normal for extended growth. These things have a mind of their own when they get above a few hundred pounds.
John

7/27/2007 6:06:47 PM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Ok, thanks. I think you are right about babying them. I probably get to worried over small things. Its only my second year, so I have much to learn.

7/27/2007 6:35:17 PM